Shizuki was taking a fresh air in the backyard as Yomi watched the two men sparring with their swords, clashing against each other as the night was still early. "Just what are they doing, fighting just to gain the pride they had..." Shizuki commented while standing beside Yomi, even though they were immortals; they sometimes feel irritated that their rivals had surpassed their pride.

Yomi giggled softly, watching Kaname making a successful strike on Kazuya--that making Shizuki gasped. "Don't worry, it's his true strength when it comes to attacking," her best friend clarified to her, seeing Kazuya's smirk slightly irritates Shizuki. He's going to 'punish' Kaname someday as the spar was ended by his mistake.

For the first time in a while, Shizuki enjoys her holiday in this town with her friends. They deserve it, a good bonding of relaxing days, especially her and Kazuya...

Well, only when they had free time.

The next morning, Shizuki wanted to swim in the sea and Kazuya decided to tag along--leaving Kaname and Yomi at the machiya house. They also had to search for the sea spirit--but the locals referred it as 'Ningyōhime'--the palace where she resided is at the rock islands that consists of countless boulders, the locals worshiped her--they were telling stories that the priestess had enchanted several years in solitude due to her responsibility--which mean they can't break her out or they'll be killed in the island.

Shizuki was swimming at the clear waters with the white shells that scattered around the beach, while Kazuya decided to lay on the rock nearby the coast to watch over her from any dangerous sea monsters. The girl floating at the coast where she was bathing, staring at the afternoon light that was shining on her from the distance--making the sea glow vibrantly before she heard the water splashing. "Kazuya...? Is that you?" she turned around to see a man...

Not Kazuya, a stranger but his appearance resemble her lover.

Shizuki sensed something bad from her half-Onikami blood running through her veins, she sensed that he isn't a normal human and she need to escape quickly... she held out her katana and pointed it towards him, making the 'man' sneered at her. Good thing she still wear her white kimono robe on, so she can fight back before her throat swallowed thickly. "Hey, you! What are you doing?!"

No response, the man shifted into a serpent-like yokai which it roared, the eyes are now hollowed out, there's a dark blue glow around his body and the shadow that was surrounding him... turn into 6 others? 'You can do this, Shizuki. Take care of them!' Kazuya's encouraging voice ringing her head as she have no choice but to fight them off. She swing her katana at each of their direction, barely wounded them as she swiftly avoid their claws that can harm her. Although she received some cuts, she was still alive and panting heavily. There was a serpent yokai, two lizard-like yokais and there are the centipede-like yokai lastly... a sea monster.

The Ningyōhime appeared out of nowhere, and she didn't look human. The silhouette were replaced into a deformed creature that will send fear into people's eyes, but her transparent and wide eyes glued at her like she could devour her alive. Shizuki took a deep breath, concentrating on her transformation into her Awakening Onikami form--her long chocolate brown hair turned purplish-black and swayed by the breeze of the wind. Some parts of her hair behind her ear pulled into low half-ponytail with black and red hairpin with beads and black ribbon, along her bangs almost covering her light violet eyes and retaining her ivory complexion. Her red horns formed on her upper forehead, her sharp pupils glazed at the enemy as Shizuki held her long katana blade tightly. "Tell me what I want."

The lizards launched their attack as she avoided it with such ease, swinging her blade towards their direction as they turned into ashes and its energy flowed through her veins. The Ningyōhime stared at her, shocked and amazed as how she could defeat all of her subordinates within seconds. The goddess was proud at her, Shizuki was glaring at her. "Onihime... or perhaps, Yasha-hime? This is my first time to see an Oyabun has a member from the Yasha clan itself. Were you one of those people who fought the Yashas from the past?" the Ningyōhime asked, stepping onto the rocks as the tides of the sea crash down on her hard surface.

"Oyabun? Yasha clan? Are you referring to my race as Onikami, hm?"

Shizuki questioned with a grim smile, something ticked off from the words Ningyōhime used earlier--to make her want to snap. As the serpent yokai attempted to ambush her, Shizuki merely throw a glare at him and slicing him in half, he exploded into ashes as his soul was tainted.

'The past... the words Ningyōhime spoke of when I heard someone telling about past...'

Her mind drifted to the events when Hozuki was revived, the visions returned--and suddenly everything is clear. The vision... showed Shizuki how Kazuya got himself into a war with the god that his bloodline belongs to... why didn't she saw this since the beginning? Is it because it only just a past? "I can decapitate you, or perhaps slice your throat with a single stroke..." she spoke slowly, making sure what she was threatening sounds convincing and deadly.

"However, what can you do to have a chance to have a good life for once? Trapped in solitude just because you're a monster... everyone hated you," Shizuki stated, making the sea spirit shuddered at her word--almost close to tears, seeing a girl like her is strong as an Oyabun, or a Yashajin. "Now leave your lair and stop trying to lure the locals and travelers with your curse... or I'm going to stab your 'neck' if you refuse my demand."

This is one of reasons why Shizuki is calm and collected, but when it came to something that makes her pissed--she will definitely snap her katana like nothing.

Ningyōhime quickly transform into human, so did the small waves of the ocean. The queen of the sea looked up to see her, her eyes weren't the black void--but light and bright aquamarine with golden pupils. Now that she was impressed. "Who's the ruler of the sea now?" Shizuki questioned, she know it was Kazuya--the rain and snow Dragon god who also a mountain god of North Mountain of Kagutsuchi. However, Ningyōhime laughed it off. "Who's going to stop him?"

Shizuki swung her katana towards the palm the woman held up, a sign of submitting when she defeated her. "He's mine," she replied, making Ningyōhime went pale--she was stunned, there's a little respect and approval within the Oyabun herself. "Now go."

When the sea was calming down, the birds were chirping at the distance as she sighed in relief--feeling safe, protected from a certain amount of pain...

Shizuki reverted back into her human form like usual, before she felt Kazuya's arms wrapped around her waist after putting a comforting kiss on her shoulder. It made her surprised a bit, before she huffed. "Where have you been?! Did you sleep too much again? I swear, you..."

"It's nothing, love."

She glanced at him and he sensed that she was upset, by the time the Dragon kissed the tip of her nose. Shizuki looked at his brown eyes, before shaking her head and staring back at the coast, she wish she can swim now, right? "Feeling melancholic and worried, knowing that you can drown us both for leaving me at the sidelines," he continued, resting his head on her shoulder. She couldn't help but burst in laughter. "Kazuya, that's... hahahaha! You... I can't even..."

He slightly blushed as the sun was glowing at them, making him groan when she knew what was he trying to say. "You're really funny, this is why I loved you," she hummed, enjoying the scent of the salty air and relaxed on the embrace, she just realized her white kimono is slightly wet but it doesn't matter anymore when she sense the comfort, letting out a peaceful sigh.

In the machiya house, Yomi was smiling as they finished their investigation from the former area, Kaname was wondering what's in the past and knowing about the past--which is Hozuki's past because he need to be killed once more, and bringing some pieces of clues from the notes Yomi found. Kaname was staring at her when she was looking at the window, before he blushed and look away when Yomi noticed. "What is it, Kaname?" she asked in such adorable confusion, making him chuckle. "Nothing, I was thinking... if we can have a date? I mean, we already confessed to each other, it's time to make it happen, right?"

Yomi didn't say a word as she walked closer to him, before she said. "Since we started to date, actually--we will have our own family when the time has arrived," she declared, surprising Kaname before she smiled sweetly and giggling. He stared at her beautiful chocolate brown eyes, tracing the shape of her facial features to remember later. The raven black hair and the creamy complexion that will always seducing him everytime...

"After I turned into human or perhaps half-human," Kaname replied, looking away while scratching his cheek. Yomi laughed cheerfully, pulling him for a hug before he lean down to make his cheek touched her smooth one. Yomi could feel his scent wafted into her lungs as she tried to wrap her arm around his shoulders, feeling his arms at her waist and both bodies touch into the embrace. "Now kiss!"

Kazuya snapped, making both of them separated and Shizuki snickered beside him as he put his hands on his waist. When Kazuya have his fingers placed on the edge of his lips, he narrowed his gaze towards his best friend. "Oh, no you can't tell that I didn't expected that you'll become like this and all lovey-dovey..." he interrupted, grumbling in irritation. Shizuki hold his palm and smiled sheepishly at him. "Come on, Kazuya... leave them and let's go."

Kaname didn't utter a single reply, as his reddened face was silent and so was Yomi. That bastard is getting luckier than he thought, but Kazuya can't help but snicker in response--making both of them turned to him. "Yes, we're dating. You guys are technically engaged so..." Kaname muttered. They sighed when they both hearing their conversation at the porch, it's embarrassing enough to have Kazuya poking fun at the both of them.

They have arrived in the village where the Onikami kinds lived and hiding from any sight of humans, it was known as Yasekura Village--where Shizuki's late mother Mizuki used to live before she and her husband died by the hands of Taiyou Bakufu. The villagers heard that her husband was executed along with Mizuki after Shizuki was exiled--where she meet her childhood friends Hayate and Haruka when she was so young, meaning--that was the last moment to be a normal girl. This can't be helped, is she afraid of the past? Of course, but she already overcome it... all that matters for her was when her new friends accepting the reality of life and Kazuya made sure it won't ever break their pride... unless someone has the audacity to threaten their safety.

The chieftain of the Onikami kinds; Kureha Akifusa--she was surprised to see Mizuki's daughter has arrived, she came out from her temple to see the group of four people entered the village. Kureha has a dark chocolate brown hair tied into courtesan-like hairstyle with small part in front left dangled while her deep hazel eyes shown wisdom, she has a youthful face due to her lineage as Onikami due to their eternal youth. She was wearing a light purple and white colored kimono with butterfly print underneath a long tailcoat. Her appearance is similar like Mizuki and Shizuki, even they shared similar eye color. "Akifusa-sama, we thank you for allowing us to stay in your home," Yomi thanked with a smile, before Shizuki added. "I should thank you too, grandmother..."

"Please, just call me Kureha-san."

"Ah, oh... no! Why would I?!"

Kureha laughed in response, patting her granddaughter's back when they had their conversation inside the dining room. "Ah, that's alright, dear. You don't have to force your way in and anyway--" she glanced at the Dragon when they locked their gazes towards each other. "I didn't expect you're the infamous water dragon and mountain god of Kagutsuchi's North Mountain, Kazuya Amamiya. It's a pleasure to meet the god..."

The said Dragon bowed at the elder Onikami to show his respect, this seems peaceful--somehow, Shizuki didn't feel assured when her grandmother was acting so calm in front of him. "Kureha, I understand that I'm engaged with your granddaughter and of course, I'll get married with her once this war has ended..." Kazuya replied without hesitation, glancing at Shizuki while she can only fluster in embarrassment because they didn't explain further to the woman. 'Damn it, Kazuya... I will kill you for this one,' Shizuki thought darkly as Yomi giggled at her.

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"So when were you dating him, Shizuki?" Kureha suddenly questioned, the smug look on her face was irritating as the three of them went silent. "It was all started when Munakata... the High Priestess wanting to release Kazuya from his sealing state, she wanted me to release him so I did what she said. After that, he got released and my first impression of him for the first time is... he was cold and intimidating--until he suddenly took me into his chamber and we talked... it got more serious and so on--that's where we'd decided to make it official," she admitted shyly, Kazuya smirked when Kaname was growling at him like a dog, the god is trolling her friend by suddenly announced their relationship and how Kazuya was manipulative on making her date with him.

"You know, Kazuya. She wasn't for someone that can control her feelings and taking a man as a date... well, you need to impress her. How were you two living together for the past three years? Every year is surely must have made you crazy on each other," he stated, making the Dragon chuckled a bit. It must been chaos whenever Shizuki was raging or in a bad mood that made Kazuya's servants scared to get involved with her wrath. He should admit, Shizuki is mature but perhaps it's too obvious, Kazuya will definitely tease her and her personality.

Due to the fact that Onikami clans are part of Kazuya's army, they are very loyal to the Dragon because of their power-seeking nature. Just after three long years, the villagers had given the Dragon full respect because he was able to secure the position after Hozuki. Now, Shizuki is his fiancée and no one will disagree for as long the Dragon would protect them. Kaname also lead an army of Tengu clan, the yokais will definitely surrender once the Tengu clans could show their new ruler and the right heir that could accept their humble invitation to become part of their faction.

Kaname sighed heavily, annoyed with the endless teasing he's going to receive if Kazuya continued. He was the only ally to Kazuya ever since the gods always went against him and backstab him at times that they fought in the world of immortals, he had known the god long--they'd trained to strengthen their powers. During the preparation for the feast, Kazuya pulled Shizuki to the side of the balcony for a small talk and seeing the warm sunset glow... the town of Yasekura looks so beautiful from the distance. The villagers went for their daily lives and their shops were open--as it will be night soon. "Do you think... they're alive after the Great Conquering of Kagutsuchi occurred?"

"We don't know, they could be executed or worse..." Kazuya muttered, caressing her fingers and intertwined their hands. Shizuki remembered when her friends are nowhere to be found and when she had returned to town where the survivors live--when she was amnesiac, she also met them after some reunion.

"Shizuki, I... have something I need to ask of you. Is it... alright?"

"What is it, Kazuya?"

Shizuki sounded assuring to him, folding her arms on the railings of the balcony. The god was hesitated, his fingers twiddled and playing with his hair which covered his eyes. Sighing, she held his chin gently as his gaze met her dark cherry blossom eyes. "What's wrong? Shouldn't we have some trust for each other?" she asked when he made no response, biting her lip gently as she pondered her words--well, she may think she's bad at wording things like this. "No, it's just... I'm trying to find a way... on how can I become either a fully human or half-human, just so I could..."

He glanced at her and turned away, showing his slightly blushing face that makes her want to hug him. "Could what...?" she whispers, wanting to listen to the truth as a response to his question. Even though Kazuya is a powerful Dragon and mountain god that many yokais feared and revered at the same time, he still can't help but has feelings as well.

There's a small bump in her heart when he finally tell her the truth, looking back at her. "So I can stay beside you and protect you until I die."

Despite his determination to save himself as well as protecting his priestess, Kazuya have Shizuki who helped him how to understand emotions he just recently managed to control with her pure influence.

Even though at that time, Shizuki may was only amnesiac and doesn't know herself as an half-Onikami... but now, she have a new family that includes Kazuya and her friends. Once they went inside the feast prepared by the village elders of the Onikami clans, Kazuya have his arm wrapped around Shizuki's waist and make the latter jumped in surprise. His hand stayed there as he placed a comforting kiss on her shoulder that caused her to get startled, the villagers seemed to cooed and giggled happily at them (of course, Shizuki turned into a blushing mess like a red apple).

"Stop being so clingy! You're getting lucky, dear lord..." she hissed as Yomi sat beside her, she giggled at the girl and saying her fiancé never leaves her out of sight. Kureha was sitting at the end of the dinner table as Kazuya was getting himself drunk along with Kaname who already started to pick a fight with him. Shizuki sighed heavily as Yomi sipped her tea with the chuckle on her lips. "This is how their party going... Kaname is a horrible drinking buddy to him," Yomi started as she looked down at the drinking contest they do whenever Kureha let them hosts it, it appears like the Oni race truly worshipped Kazuya because he was their god.

"As far as my experiences with his arrogant and prideful behavior, I'm not surprised if their drinking contest gone worse."

After the night passed and they've returned to the room, Kazuya collapsed on the futon and his drunkenness made him incoherent. Shizuki sighed as she remembered her two childhood friends, recalling on how Hayate was so hard to control due to his intolerance over alcohol--making Haruka had to put him to sleep, because he will never shut up when he was drunk. Seeing Kazuya dozing off and having a foolish grin plastered on his lips as he was sleeping, Shizuki leaned in to whisper, "Just what would you have done when you're drunk, hm? To think of you behaving like a spoilt child."

The fact that in their first meeting, he acts different because he's so cold and seems like he can scare her away with just a word.

"Shizuki... I want to be sober enough to sleep with you..."

She squeaked in response as the sleepy Dragon tugged her down for a drunken sloppy kiss--which happened by accident. "What are you saying?! You won't remember it once you wake up, stupid bastard!" she yelled, using a pillow to smack his face repeatedly that making the said Dragon laughing loudly. How on earth that Kazuya's energy didn't subside at all? Did he really want to be the winner in this fight? "Oi! Stop hitting me with that pillow--I'll play a fair game later when I woke up, no..."

"WIN! I'm NOT playing with you--god, don't do that when you're still--"

"You want to sleep with me, right?"

That question did not surprise her, Shizuki slept with him SEVERAL TIMES before they returned to the past. However, he got knocked out to sleep by Yomi's fist on his head--making her relieved when Kaname also got knocked out by her fist. "Thank you, Yomi..." she panted, exhausted from dealing with his drunken self. Yomi laughed before she excuse herself to head back to the room while dragging Kaname on her back, she need to bring him to the room by the time she reached to the hallway and slid the door open.

On the other hand, Kureha approached them as they discussed a possible plan after Hozuki's destruction and of course the god will be their major target, but first they should handle Taiyou Bakufu. This was the real reason of Kazuya's war, he's planning to destroy Taiyou Bakufu--focusing his first fight after freeing him from his imprisonment, killing Hozuki. They need to overthrow the current shogun of Taiyou Bakufu, this is the most important thing to do--if Taiyou Bakufu was gone, they won't live in a peaceful place. So, the only way to take them down is gathering all the gods and unite the pearls in order to stop Hozuki and his army--which means they have to take down the ruler first.

Besides, Yuzuki's influence also the reason Hozuki started this war.

***

Hozuki was in his lair, observing the black pearl where the dark void covering his entire domain--his subordinates were sleeping peacefully, no monsters dared to disobey him, especially from his leadership skills--with Hozuki, the ultimate leader, in charge. He was holding the locket that belongs to his late-mother Yuzuki, he still cherishes her despite her flaws and manipulation towards the Dragon. Was there another mistake that he had caused? Even the yokais already aware about Hozuki's unforgiving aura and the wrath he brought to them, when the god decided to finish his mother's legacy which had tainted with his own anger, and selfishness--guess who hated to take that action for several reasons.

He touched the side of the temple-like habitat with his palm as he watches his subordinates were sleeping in their hiding spots, making sure none of them escape. Hozuki remained focused but cautious in case someone was planning to kill him using his own methods, his eyes watched the full moon glistened calmly as the rays are providing the light to the darkness for the gods and goddesses.

Hozuki still has his arrogance and prideful behavior, he learned new tactics in order to punish someone or torturing people without mercy--from when he's done, his soul became wicked as a devil himself. He still cherishing his memories with his mother but her wish to take control over the entire world was futile and her revenge couldn't be completed, much to his dismay, Hozuki was ready to take revenge. "That girl Shizuki Kasuga... even though she was the reincarnation of my late-mother... why do I feel a threatening aura coming from her?" he mused in confusion, thinking about why his estranged father Kazuya was protecting her even though he hated humans.

"Why am I feeling some kind of warmth from her...? I'm supposed to kill her and do what my late-mother desired! It's time to end my pain..." he yelled to himself before he looked at the black pearl. There's nobody else that are willing to help the Dragon or his friends--as long the barrier protects their whereabouts, nothing will stop his ambitions to rise. From inside the lair, he is watching the four's destination to visit the temples.

He scoffed. "No one cannot stop my plans, no matter how hard you want to fight me..."

Hozuki clenched his fists, he turned to see someone visiting him--and it was Narumitsu, one of his loyal subordinates. "Lord Hozuki, we received an urgent report from Minagi Okami that the Dragon and his party visited his hidden temples that were destroyed with the presence of dark magic," Narumitsu announced before he kneeled on the carpet. Hozuki showed his rare smile, despite it was rather maniacal that the ghost trembled from him, Hozuki was like the demon taking over him--as one side, his eyes narrowed for a brief moment before closing them.

Narumitsu already knows the unspoken rules that Hozuki made without his followers realizing his plans, and the most dangerous thing is--Hozuki doesn't like to take orders from mere peasants like any others, his smile turned into an irritated smirk while his eyes opened slowly. "And, what else? They kept their motives secret?" he asked, turning to face the silver hair ghost. Narumitsu nodded. "This time, Lord Hozuki... the girl he's with, is a Yasha-hime--a half-Onikami warrior princess that somewhat inherited her true self from her bloodline," he explained, causing the god to glare at him and clenching his fists before sending the rock went flying backwards.

Hozuki hated the Onikamis, not only they're the ally of his father--but they also the main reason to his own existence which result in the death of his mother, the shrine priestess who once fell in love with him and somewhat ended in a feud that soon became bloody and huge mess. "Well then... Onikami hybrid, huh? And is there a hint that this girl had met the rain deity Dragon and her name is Shizuki?"

Hozuki said, he slammed the wall where he noticed a bunch of large bones were scattered across the lair as the group saw his angry demeanor. They did not flinch, they were used to his actions before they disappear, a loud, frustrated roar emanated from his lair, causing the whole domain shook. Is Hozuki going to make his rage towards the Dragon and make them pay in an awful way?

"To honor her soul, this might be your greatest failure, father!" Hozuki shrieked when his eyes closed, the storm began to flood every temples, surrounding himself with his power.

***

All they have been doing is walking from the beach to the market village, searching for the clue of the Iridescent Pearls to find out about its reason and their final purpose. In case they're going to face Hozuki in a battle, Kazuya was more than prepared to do the inevitable--until they heard a loud rumbling as thunder roared upon the daylight, Kazuya knew it was Takashi. Seriously, this bastard doesn't know how to restrain his power, and they can sense Tsubaki was plotting something whenever this thundering and lightning appeared as an ominous sign.

Shizuki sighed, she was used to this event as always--no matter how bad it might be, she just let the events passing by. They have arrived in the village, Kaname stopped and founds its streets were empty--to his surprise, there's nobody there--only the group of Yokais and oni-based who were having the meal and a place to rest. "Where are the people at least? There were supposed to be busy," he wondered as he looked around.

"Maybe they're terrified, thinking it is caused by the disasters coming--who knows what was the cause of this," Yomi mentioned, looking around cautiously that the weather doesn't feel right and it was quiet than it should be. Shizuki gulped, trying not to lash out and pull her sword just to counter if someone was planning to attack them--they have no idea what is the goal that Hozuki have in mind, the girl hoped for a good luck to reach their place where the pearls lay. "Calm down, Shizuki... this is the right path, nobody is trespassing without a permission from the owner..." Kazuya muttered.

"Sorry, I'm having a paranoid feeling just now."

She groaned, folding her arms as Kazuya chuckled in an amused way, having a thought of mocking her about how did she feel, but it was too bold of him--Shizuki was glaring in displease because she knows that he is enjoying her agony, trying not to be nervous. "I mean, when it comes to her instincts--she would lose her patience and her tongue is being cruel," he added, referring to his relationship that he wanted to remind her as her real significant other. Kaname groaned, before he smirked as he pinched Kazuya's nose as a payback for his tease and his dragon form.

"Gee, how does she really puts up with you? No wonder you became her lover, Kazuya," he scoffed, making the water dragon snarled from the remark that had offended him. "Kaname, do you want to fight here or I would rip off that arm as your challenge?" Kazuya threatened in an impatient manner, his knuckles crackled in a provocative way. Yomi turned to see Yasha-hime before she decided to discuss with her. "What do you think, Shizuki? Do you remember anything related to Yuzuki?"

"I don't... I just can't remember them, no matter how much I tried..."

Shizuki replied with a frown, followed by Yomi who seems curious about Yuzuki--perhaps the blood of Onikami preventing Yuzuki's soul from trying to possess her and made her 'leave'? Shizuki didn't know why but she didn't feel Yuzuki's soul within her after she 'left' her. The aftermath of her post-Awakening Onikami state made Yuzuki unable to overcome Shizuki, causing Yuzuki to leave her and making Shizuki becoming herself.

But, there's something more about Yuzuki that Shizuki didn't know... and she wanted to learn more about her.